Egypt PM sets up taskforce after hospital visit

Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab has set up a committee to investigate negligence in the country's hospitals, after visiting the Qasr al-Aini hospital where he saw patients lying on the floor due to a lack of hospital beds, Al Arabiya reported.

The prime minister was reportedly shocked with the conditions at the country's largest university hospital as he noted a lack of doctors on the scene.

In a statement, Mahlab added that the new minister of higher education would be responsible for the standards of such university hospitals and further stated that frequent inspections would be carried out.

Meanwhile, President of Cairo University Jaber Nassar said that the Qasr al-Aini Hospital and its doctors who were not present at the time of the prime minister's visit were under investigation.

Nasser also stated that a committee would be set up to enforce regulations and ensure doctors are present at all times in outpatient clinics, emergency departments and other units of the hospital.